Kumara-kauamu Pa

This old fortified place is situated in the Urenui township, on the left bank of the river of that name in northern Taranaki. It is situated on a point projecting out from a level plateau. Its eastern side is a steep bluff at the base of which flows the Urenui river. See 90, p. 329. This steep slope apparently formed the main defence on that side; the upper part was probably very steeply scarped and surmounted by a stockade. The A F face has a length of 44 yards. This shows an unbroken steep face except at the northern end, where a terrace formation begins as shown in the sketch. This steep scarp continues on round the point of the spur at F and onward to D and E, with the terrace below it. This part is undoubtedly an artificial escarpment made when forming the terrace, though it has become much eroded, the soil being of a light, friable nature. On the other hand the eastern face now carries its original steep slope for about seventy feet down, after which it becomes even steeper. A heavy road cutting has destroyed the original aspect of the lower parts, the same having been the first road formed from Urenui to the old military station at Puke-aruhe.

At F the terrace is 15 ft. wide, but on the western side of the spur it has lost much of its original width, owing to the erosion of its outer parts and the falling of debris from the upper scarp. Opposite D it is now only 8 ft. wide. At G it was probably 18 ft. wide originally. Proceeding from F to G this terrace descends somewhat, hence the inner scarp at the latter place is much higher than it is at F, being about 12 ft. at the latter place but fully 18 ft. at G.

At G the terrace resolves itself into a wide fosse which runs right round the southern side to the edge of the bluff at M. This is a feature not uncommon in native forts, a terrace round a hillside running into a fosse that forms part of the defensive works across a ridge. In some cases the observer notes an abrupt drop or rise in the terrace level, whereat a cross line of stockading would be of service to the garrison in the event of an enemy entering the area. This peculiarity is seen in the case of the Urenui pa.

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The defences of the inner and upper area of this small fort were evidently a high steep scarp, up to 20 ft. in height from A to F and round the western side to E, which steep scarp would certainly be surmounted by a stockade. The E to A line, or base of the triangle, shows heavier defences, as this represents the base of the projecting point, the weak part of all headland forts. The two longer sides of the triangle have steep slopes below them, to the river on the east, to the low river flat on the north and west. But to the south lies a level area of plateau presenting no such advantages for defence, hence the deep, wide ditch with superimposed rampart on its inner scarp crest, and apparently another on its southern side. The terrace from N to F and on to G, evidently a residential area, was defended undoubtedly by a stockade along its outer edge, outside and below which would assuredly be another scarp of some height to render approach difficult. Erosion and other causes have destroyed the symmetry of such escarpments.

From G on to the E H corner the terrace bears the aspect of a wide fosse 30 yds. in length and 13 ft. wide at the bottom near G. Its former width at bottom must have been fully 16 ft. for it contains page 330much debris. The inner scarp at E is 19 ft. in height. The western or outer side of this fosse presents its own scarp upon which a superimposed earthen rampart has been built, this aspect meaning that the outer defences from G to H do not include the full width of the base of the point which here connects with the plateau to the south. This outer scarp of the G to H fosse is 8 ft. in height at the south end and 4 ft. at the northern end, but both scarp and superincumbent wall are much abraded.

The opening at G shows the former entrance to the fortified terrace area. The entrance passage is a sunk way about six feet deep extending downwards from the terrace. It is but a narrow way and is protected by the outer wall which swings out somewhat. The approach to the fort was evidently up the spur face from the flat to the north, through the C G entrance passage to the terrace. The entrance to the upper area from the terrace was not located, but was probably between D and F. West of the H C wall is a gentle slope that, although not defended by any earthworks, was evidently occupied as hut sites, as shown by the shell refuse. The wall is now about 5 ft. higher than this outside area; it was probably 7 ft. higher originally.

On the southern face the fosse is about 8 ft. wide across the bottom, now rounded by accumulations of detritus, and 15 ft. wide at a height of 6 ft. Opposite H its outer scarp is 10 ft. in height. Brow to brow measurements run from 20 ft. to 30 ft. The eastern end of the fosse (see M) narrows somewhat, though preserving its former depth and batter aspects. On the outside of this H to M trench there seems to have been another parapet, for the surface is raised from one to three feet for a width of several yards. It may have been levelled by Europeans. South of this the land is a level plateau formation as far as the main road, and shell refuse betokens an occupation of this part in Maori days. The inner scarp of the H M trench seems to have retained its original batter in some parts, owing to the growth of vegetation; at such parts we note an almost perpendicular face 11 ft. high, above which is another 5 ft. or so that is much less steep, outer parts having crumbled away. The upper part of this inner scarp is the outer face of a parapet or rampart that rises some 4 ft. to 6 ft. above the level of the interior area. There also seems to have been a parapet along the western side of the inner summit area (tihi); it can be traced for about 16 yds. but it has evidently lost much by a crumbling process. In such loose soils it is often impossible to judge as to what extent parapets were erected on scarp brows.

This pa of Kumara-kaiamu is a very good illustration of methods employed in fortifying such points or headlands, wherein two or page 331three faces are slopes more or less steep, and the other, is the connection with the hill, range, terrace or plateau forming the base of the spur or headland. This fort may be compared with that of Te Kawa which it much resembles, and which is situated but a short distance away.

On the brink of the bluff about 20 yds. south of the outer defences near M is a small area defended by fosse and wall. The interior area is about 20 yds. by 12 yds. It is possibly a European work; it does not look like a Maori position.

West of this level area, on the further side of the road may be seen the site of one of the old camps of the Armed Constabulary, situated on the brink of the plateau. Prior to that occupation Captain Good held a position at Pihanga, on the hill to the westward.

From Kumara-kaiamu, Pohokura lies almost due north; Urenui pa lies about N.E., Te Kawa pa S.E. and Pihanga W.

The steep bluff on the eastern face of Kumara-kaiamu is about 150 ft. high.

Historical notes concerning many of these old forts of the Taranaki district may be met with in the Maori History of the Taranaki Coast, published by the Polynesian Society. See pp. 117 and 368 of that work for some remarks on Kumara-kaiamu. By the way, when a detachment of the A.C. Force was occupying the post hard by, the natives proposed that the name be altered to Kumara-kai-rama, or Rum drinking Kumara. This seems to imply that the members of the garrison were not also members of the Blue Ribbon army. Kumara-kaiamu was occupied in olden times by the Ngati-Hinetuhi clan of Ngati-Mutunga.